Using the Apache CVS Repository - page 3

Keeping Up with Apache's Bleeding Edge

April 13, 2000

By
Ken Coar

Given the pros and cons of the three methods, I recommend the tarball download
if all you want to do is test-drive the latest and greatest. If you want to do
a test-drive on a regular basis, I think the rsync mechanism is
best. But if you have local customisations, or are considering submitting fixes
or features to the developers, you can't beat anonymous CVS.

If you want to stay on the bleeding edge of Apache developments, it's quite
easy and even encouraged. Almost all of the tools you need are already included
in most of the Linux distributions (if not automatically installed), so all you
need is an Internet connexion, some patience, and some fortitude and you're
ready to go. Remember that if you decide to do this, you're working from a
snapshot of the actual master code, and it's possible that the latest one you
downloaded was created midway through a problem (such as a compilation failure)
being detected and solved by the developers. That's where the fortitude comes
in: wait until your snapshot source refreshes, and then try again.

If you do decide to play keep-up with the Apache project's ongoing
development, any feedback you can provide about problems you encounter would be
welcomed by the developers--particularly if your report included a fix as well.

Going Further
You can also find some documentation at the following URLs:

http://www.cyclic.com/>

http://dev.apache.org/>
(Be aware: this is documentation. The developers are off doing development, not
documentation, so this may not be completely up-to-date.)

http://dev.apache.org/anoncvs.txt>

AcknowledgementsA security-expert acquaintance from my distant
past, Colin Rous, contacted me after the publication of the Apache security
article and pointed out that my definitions and uses of "mandatory"
and "discretionary" vary significantly--and confusingly--from those
used in government and other circles. As a consequence, I'm coming up with
different and non-conflicting terms for those things I called MAC and DAC in
the article. Stay tuned.

Got a Topic You Want Covered?
If you have a particular Apache-related topic that you'd like covered in a
future article in this column, please let me know; drop me an email at <coar@Apache.Org>. I do read and
answer my email, usually within a few hours (although a few days may pass if
I'm travelling or my mail volume is 'way up). If I don't respond within what
seems to be a reasonable amount of time, feel free to ping me again.